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Race tech: Carbon wheels reign at Tour of Flanders

Like most teams at Ronde van Vlaanderen, Ag2r swapped its normal carbon fiber cages for studier aluminum ones - in this case Ciussi Gel models from team sponsor Elite.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Ag2r is one of few SRAM-sponsored road teams that pass over the PG-1070 cassette in favor of the lighter Red model, which runs more loudly and is more prone to clogging with debris.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Ag2r is using SRAM Red BB30 cranksets and Red front derailleurs, but with stiffer steel cages instead of the consumer-spec titanium ones for faster shifting.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Ag2r was among the majority of teams at Ronde van Vlaanderen putting at least some of its riders on carbon rims.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Gore Ride-On sealed cables have proven to be extremely popular in the pro peloton for their combination of a silky feel at the lever plus excellent all-weather performance that holds up well to multiple washings.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

The French Corima wheels on Astana team bikes use unique carbon fiber and aluminum hubs along with an interesting way of anchoring the J-bend spokes.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Astana's Corima rear hubs also use aluminum flanges on a carbon fiber body but the driveside spokes are rotated 90 degrees from the norm.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Astana was one of many teams at the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen to put its riders on carbon rims.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Astana team bikes are equipped with Specialized's own S-Works carbon cranks and chainrings.

Rabobank went for 25mm-wide Corsa Evo CX tires while most other Vittoria-sponsored teams opted for 24mm Paves.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Surprise, surprise - more Ambrosio Nemesis box-section aluminum tubular rims at a cobbled race, this time on a Rabobank team bike.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

fi'zi:k coats the carbon fiber shell of the k:1 with a layer of shock absorbing elastomer but even so, we're still slightly surprised to see this on a Ronde van Vlaanderen bike. Perhaps even more impressive is that not just one Rabobank rider was using it, either.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

See any glue peeking out on this Rabobank rim? We sure don't. Kudos to the team mechanic who mounted these.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

This RadioShack bike was fitted with aluminum bars and a molded carbon fiber stem for Ronde van Vlaanderen.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Even though RadioShack's Trek Madones use internally routed cables - meaning they're already well shielded from the elements - team mechanics still use fully sealed SRAM Professional System cables from Gore Ride-On.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

RadioShack riders used a mix of SRAM cranksets at Ronde van Vlaanderen including both power meter equipped and standard models.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

RadioShack took the conservative approach to wheels at Ronde van Vlaanderen with aluminum box-section tubular rims and traditional stainless steel spokes and nipples.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Just one Vacansoleil-DCM rider went with carbon wheels at the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Team Veranda's Willems - Accent is sponsored by Belgian bike company Zannata.

Like most teams at Ronde van Vlaanderen, Ag2r swapped its normal carbon fiber cages for studier aluminum ones - in this case Ciussi Gel models from team sponsor Elite.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Ag2r is one of few SRAM-sponsored road teams that pass over the PG-1070 cassette in favor of the lighter Red model, which runs more loudly and is more prone to clogging with debris.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Ag2r is using SRAM Red BB30 cranksets and Red front derailleurs, but with stiffer steel cages instead of the consumer-spec titanium ones for faster shifting.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Ag2r was among the majority of teams at Ronde van Vlaanderen putting at least some of its riders on carbon rims.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Gore Ride-On sealed cables have proven to be extremely popular in the pro peloton for their combination of a silky feel at the lever plus excellent all-weather performance that holds up well to multiple washings.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

The French Corima wheels on Astana team bikes use unique carbon fiber and aluminum hubs along with an interesting way of anchoring the J-bend spokes.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Astana's Corima rear hubs also use aluminum flanges on a carbon fiber body but the driveside spokes are rotated 90 degrees from the norm.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Astana was one of many teams at the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen to put its riders on carbon rims.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Astana team bikes are equipped with Specialized's own S-Works carbon cranks and chainrings.

Rabobank went for 25mm-wide Corsa Evo CX tires while most other Vittoria-sponsored teams opted for 24mm Paves.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Surprise, surprise - more Ambrosio Nemesis box-section aluminum tubular rims at a cobbled race, this time on a Rabobank team bike.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

fi'zi:k coats the carbon fiber shell of the k:1 with a layer of shock absorbing elastomer but even so, we're still slightly surprised to see this on a Ronde van Vlaanderen bike. Perhaps even more impressive is that not just one Rabobank rider was using it, either.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

See any glue peeking out on this Rabobank rim? We sure don't. Kudos to the team mechanic who mounted these.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

This RadioShack bike was fitted with aluminum bars and a molded carbon fiber stem for Ronde van Vlaanderen.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Even though RadioShack's Trek Madones use internally routed cables - meaning they're already well shielded from the elements - team mechanics still use fully sealed SRAM Professional System cables from Gore Ride-On.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

RadioShack riders used a mix of SRAM cranksets at Ronde van Vlaanderen including both power meter equipped and standard models.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

RadioShack took the conservative approach to wheels at Ronde van Vlaanderen with aluminum box-section tubular rims and traditional stainless steel spokes and nipples.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Just one Vacansoleil-DCM rider went with carbon wheels at the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Team Veranda's Willems - Accent is sponsored by Belgian bike company Zannata.

(James Huang/BikeRadar.com)

Whether by virtue of the surprisingly dry conditions, improving technology, or changing rider and team attitudes – perhaps all three – the 2011 Tour of Flanders saw more riders starting and finishing on carbon wheels than we've noticed in years past.

By our count, roughly three-quarters of the 25 participating teams put at least a few (and in some cases all) of its riders on composite hoops - and notably, Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank-Sungard) won the event using Zipp 303s.

Bontrager looks to have made a successful cobbled debut for its new 50mm-deep wheels and Corima's carbon wheels made an appearance underneath the Astana riders. Mavic had a carbon-infused field as well including its still-as-yet-unofficial 40mm-deep M40 carbon tubulars, R-Sys shallow-section wheels with hollow carbon spokes, and Cosmic Carbone SLRs with their aluminum rims and carbon fairings (primary M40 tester Thor Hushovd notably used these instead). Not surprisingly, Zipp-sponsored teams opted for the company's now well proven 303 carbon tubulars across the board after their impressive showing at last year's Paris-Roubaix.

In all fairness, most of those wheels were still wrapped in wider-than-usual tubular tires measuring 25mm and up, and there was still the rash of Roubaix-style aluminum Ambrosio and Mavic box-section rims with tied-and-soldered steel spokes used by more traditionally minded teams such as Quick Step and Vacansoleil-DCM. A smaller contingent opted for softer riding frames, too, and a handful of riders even used 'cross bikes.

In addition, some bars were also double-wrapped for additional cushioning and most teams had heavier-duty cages fitted to prevent bottle ejection while streaking across the pavé (though we still saw plenty of bottles on the ground).

For the most part, though, it was business as usual for one of the most exciting editions of the Tour of Flanders in recent memory.